Shoring for portable drilling rigs



M r 1944- E. L. ALEXANDER ET AL 2,344,383

SHORING FOR PORTABLE DRILLING RIGS Filed Jan. 9, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet lMarch 14, 1944. E ALEXANDER ET A 2,344,383

SHORING FOR PORTABLE DRILLING RIGS Filed Jan. 9, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 37,3, \flk" Jig. 6.

ATTdRNEY Patented Mar. 14, 1944 SHORING FOR PORTABLE DRILLING RIGSEmmett Lee Alexander and Albert W. Braithwaite, Enid, Okla assignors toThe George E. Failing Supply Company, Enid, kla., a corporation ofOklahoma Application January 9, 1941, Serial No. 373,775

Claims. (01.189-11) This invention relates to drilling rigs,particularly those of portable type wherein the derrick platform,derrick, turntable, and draw-works are\ mounted on the chassis ofa-vehlcle so that the rig may be readily transported from one drillingsite to another and quickly set up for drilling operations. Sincedrilling loads are extremely great, especially those acting on thederrick when handling the drillingstring, well casing, or the like, itis desirable to provide undershoring to support the rear of the vehicleframe directly from the ground independently of the wheels.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to providea simple shoring structure that is readily assembled in position andadjusted so that all of the footing members thereoftake theirproportional share of the load when supporting the platform in levelposition.

Further objects of the invention are to provide shoring members whichconsist of built up units that are of strong, light weight constructionand equipped with channel-like saddles for seating longitudinal membersof the vehicle frame and/or platform; and to provide a portable rib withan undershoring and platform construction which facilitatesdisengagement of the rig from a finished well.

It is a further object of the invention to provide the platform withlateral extensions which are adapted for support by adjustable postscooperating with the main undershoring units.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, ashereinafter pointed out, we have provided improved structure, thepreferred form Fig. 6 is a, longitudinal section on the line 6-6 of Fig.4.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the undershoring units.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a portable drilling rig including a vehicle 2 having achassis comprising a frame 3 supported at the mall on wheels 4, theWheels being connected with an axle housing 5 carrying the frame 3 onsprings (not shown), as in conventional automotive practice.

Mounted on the frame 3 is a platform including longitudinal rails Ii, 1,8, 3, ill and II, and cross rails l2 that are connected therewith. Thecentral longitudinal rails 8 and 9 are spaced apart a suflicientdistance to carry a turntable I3 which is supported directly above thelongitudinal members of the chassis frame 3 and rearward extensions l4and I5 thereof. The platform thus described is carried on longitudinalsills l6 and I1 which are supported directly on the vehicle frame.

With the exception of the space between the rails substantially in planewith the lower flanges 23 ing the upper end of one of the jack-poststherefor. Fig. 4 is an end view of the drilling larly illustrating theundershoring of the platform and platform extensions.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the platform showing the platformextensions in folded position.

rig particu- 8 and 9 at the location of the turntable, the platform iscovered with a sheet metal flooring Hi to provide a working spacethereon. Secured to the under side of the platform, substantially inalignment with the rails I and III, are sub-sills l9 and 20 having lowerflanges 2| and 22 located and 24 of the extensions I4 and I5 as shown inFig. 5. -The sub-sills, being located substantially in alignment withthe wheels of the vehicle, terminate short of the wheels and are bracedfrom the platform frame by tubular braces 25 as shown in dotted lines inFig. 4 and full lines in Fig. 5.

Mounted on the platform, directly over the forward ends of the sub-sillsl9 and 23, are posts 26 and 21 carrying bearings 28 at their. upper endfor trunnioningly mounting the forward legs 29 and 30 of a derrick 3|.The posts are retained in perpendicular position by braces 32 and 33which connect with the platform as shown in Fig. 1. The front legs 34and 35 of the derrick have flange ends 36 adapted to seat in sockets 31which are carried on the floor of the derrick and are securedtherein byfastening devices 38 extending through suitable openings in the flanges36 and through registering openings in the frame of the platform. ,Thederrick is thus adapted to be carried in a horizontal position duringtransport and to be moved to perpendicular or drilling position when thedrilling rig is set 'up at a drilling site as in portable drilling rigpractice.

Mounted forwardly of the derrick is a drawmounting of the vehicle.

works 36 including a winding drum for raising and lowering the drillingstring, and a power shaft 46 having operative connection with theturntable iii. The turntable includes a base plate 4| that is secured tothe rails 8 and 8 by fastening devices 42 to close the opening .43 inthe platform floor i8.

The rear ends of the sills I9, l4, l and 20 are connected by a removableplate 44, the plate being secured to the respective longitudinal sillsand to the rearmost cross rails l2 by fastening devices such as bolts45, the rearmost rail being divided at the rear edge of the opening 43.It is apparent that with removal of the turntable and plate 44, thespace between the sills 23-24 is open so that when the well is completedthe drilling rig may be moved away from the completed well casing andflow pipes.

As above mentioned, it is the purpose of the present invention toprovide the drilling rig with an undershoring to support the rear of theplatform independently of the spring and wheel This is accomplished bymeans of a pair of individual shoring units 46 and 41. one of which isshown in detail in Fig. 7. 'As illustrated in Fig. 7, a shoring unitincludes longitudinal channels 48 and 49 arranged with the web portions50 thereof in horizontal position to seat the sills l9 and I 4 thereonin case of the shore unit 46 and the sills l5 and 26 in the case of theshore unit 41. The channels are also arranged so that the side flangesBI and 52 thereof project upwardly over the sides of the longitudinalsills to prevent lateral movement thereof and assure proper placement ofthe units. Fixed to the respective ends of the channels and dependingtherefrom are tubular posts 53, 54, 55 and 56. The posts 56-54 and 55-56are respectively connected by cross braces 51 and 56, and the posts53-55 and 54-56 are connected by similar cross braces 59 and 66respectively.

Threadedly mounted in each of the posts are externally threaded shafts6! having swivel connections with footing flanges 62in the manner of ajack. The shafts are rotated to efl'ect levelling of the channels byinserting a bar (not shown) through openings 63 in collars 64 which areattached to the shafts. The units just described are carried on crosssills 65-66 which in turn are carried on longitudinally arranged mudsills 69.

Mounted on the sides of the platform are platform extensions l0 and Hextending along the sides thereof and preferably hinged thereto by earsE2, the ears if being engaged in slots 13 7 formed in the outerlongitudinal sills 6 and II and secured by hinge pins 14. The platformextensions are supported in the plane of the frame by Jack-posts locatedalong the length thereof along the sides of the platform preferably tothe forward end thereof.

When the drilling rig is being transported, the derrick is carried inhorizontal position and the side rails are positioned between thedraw-works and the platform extensions, with the platform extensions invertical position, as shown in Fig. 5, to give a desired road clearanceat the sides of the vehicle. The shoring units 46 and 41 may be carriedon the platform at the forward end thereof along with the mud sills, orthese parts may be transported on a separate service vehicle.

When the drilling ri reaches the drilling site, the mud sills are placedin properposition on the ground to support the cross sills 65 and 66.The shoring units are then placed in position on the cross sills so thatthe channel-like saddles thereof align with the platform sills l9, l4,l5 and 20. The threaded shafts are then adjusted to raise thechannel-like saddles into seating engagement with the platform sills,whereupon the rear end of the platform is rigidly supportedindependently of the vehicle wheels. The platform extensions may then belowered and supported by the jack-posts 15, the shaft extensions thereofbeing adjusted to bring the footing flanges into engagement with theblocks 62.

With the rig set up for drilling operations, the

load acting upon the derrick is substantially the same load acting uponthe rotary table, the load ports provided under each of the sills. Theload and which include tubular sections l6 engaging the terminals ll ofrail supporting posts 78, the rail posts extending through sockets '19in the platform extension and into the open upper ends of tubularsections of the jack-posts. Threaded in the lower ends of the tubularsections of the jack-posts are threaded shafts carrying i'oot flanges 8!similar to the foot flanges previously described. the shafts 80 beingrotated to bring the foot flanges into engagement with supporting blocks82 by means of collars 83 which are fixed on the shafts and haveopenings 83 therein for passing a turning bar (not shown). The posts l8carry horizontal rails 85 and 86 which extend 7 is then transmitted fromone set of supports to the other of each shoring unit by the braces bywhich they are interconnected.

When the drilling operation is completed, the bore-hole is cased andequipped with the usual flow control apparatus, while the drilling rigand derrick are in position. The upper portion of the well equipmentwill therefore extend through the floor of the platform, however, therig may be disengaged, upon removal of the turntable over the top of thecasing, and disconnecting the plate 44 by removing the fastening devices45. The opening in the platform is then clear so that the truck may bemoved away from the drilling site after the shoring units have beenremoved. I

From the foregoing it is obvious that we have provided a portabledrilling rig wherein a platform is rigidly supported on undershoringthat is readily placed and which adequately supports the derrick loads.

What we claim and desire to secure by'Letters said supporting portions,and brace means connecting the vertical members disposed under the outerportions with the vertical members disposed under the inner portionswhereby said shoring units provide common and direct ground supports forthe load when shifted to either one of said positions.

2. In an apparatus of the character described including, a wheelsupported frame adapted to support a shiftable load, said frame havingspaced inner sills arranged to support the load when the load acts uponthe frame intermediate said innersills and having outer sills spacedfrom the inner sills and arranged to support the load when shifted toact upon sides of said frame, shoring units adapted to be disposed underopposite sides of said frame, each having vertical members located undersaid sills, and brace means connecting the vertical members disposedunder the inner sills with the brace members disposed under the outersills whereby said shoring units provide common and direct groundsupports for said load when shifted to either one of said positions.

3. In an apparatus of the character described including, a wheelsupported frame adapted to support a shiftable load, said frame havingspaced inner sills arranged to support a load acting upon the frameintermediate said inner sills and having outer sills spaced from theinner sills and arranged to support the load when shifted to act uponthe sides of said frame, shoring units adapted to be disposed underopposite sides of said frame, each having vertical members located undersaid sills, brace means connecting the vertical members that aredisposed under the inner sills with the vertical members disposed underthe outer sills whereby said shoring units provide common supports forthe load in either of said positions, and means for adjusting length ofthe vertical members.

4. In an apparatus of the character described either of said loadpositions. EMME'I'I' including, a wheel supported frame adapted tosupport a shiftable load having spaced longitudinal inner sills arrangedto support the load when the load acts on the frame between said sillsand having spaced longitudinal outer sills arranged to support the loadwhen the load is shifted to act upon the sides of the frame, shoringunitsadapted to be disposed under opposite sides of the wheel supportedframe, each having longitudinal members respectively engaging the spacedlongitudinal sills, tubular posts fixed to ends of said longitudinalmembers, screw shafts adjustably positioned in said posts, bracingconnecting the tubular posts in the respective units, and foot membershaving swivel connections with the screw shafts, said screw shafts beingindependently rotatable to bring said longitudinal members intosupporting engagement with said sills whereby said units provide commonsupports for said load in either of said load positions.

5. In an apparatus of the character described incIuding, a wheelsupported frame adapted to support a shiftable load having spacedlongitu-- dinal inner sills arranged to support the load when the loadacts upon the frame between said sills and having spaced longitudinalouter sills arranged to support the load when the load is shifted to actupon the sides of the frame, shoring units adapted to be disposed underopposite sides of the wheel supported frame, each having longitudinalchannel members forming seats for seating longitudinal sills, tubularposts fixed to ends of said longitudinal members, means interconnectingthe tubular posts, screw shafts, and foot members having swivelconnections with the screw shafts, said screw shafts being independentlyrotatable to bring said longitudinal members into supporting engagementwith said sills whereby said units provide common supports in LEEALEXANDER. ALBERT W. BRAITHWAITE.

